The changes were part of the larger renovation of the hospital's first floor. For the MS Institute, the first phase concluded in December 2025 with the opening of 26 new MS clinic rooms. Then, this year, at the end of July, the Eula C. and Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation and Wellness Program moved from the plaza level of the Woodruff Family Residence Center to the first floor of the main hospital, right behind centralized check-in. And finally, in August, 16 more clinic rooms opened on the opposite side of the hallway from the initial 26. 

If that sounds like a lot of changes in a short period of time, it is. The bottom line is that the entire MS Clinic is now housed in one centralized space.

Rich LaFramboise has been a patient at the clinic for just three months. He appreciates that all the services are close together, demanding less time and energy to access.

“It makes it so convenient and less stressful,” he says.

And for staff, creating a smoother experience for patients is a huge payoff. Case manager Whitney Seegars, MBA, CCM, notes that the patient experience includes getting to and from the clinic.

“The majority of our population rides Marta mobility, or they take Uber or Lyft. So, it's convenient that we're right at the front door,” she explains. “We're kind of centralized to everything else. Our patients also spend a lot of time in radiology, a lot of time in urology. And then of course, they spend a lot of time in our clinic with our physicians. So, it's great that we're all right here together now.”

Seegars also appreciates being close to all her teammates.

“I'm right here with the providers. If something needs to be signed right away, needs to be faxed over right away, I'm right here with them now, she says. “I've been able to collaborate a little bit more with my colleagues. I see more case managers on a day-to-day basis.”

That collaboration is something Rebecca Duguid, PT, DPT, program manager for the MS Institute, is especially excited about.

“For me, a huge part of this is that the team is all together. The rehab team, the wellness team, all the nurses, the medical providers, the managers, the case managers, we're all together and can just have a more collaborative, organic relationship.”

With the new, private exam rooms, patients coming for infusions can get comfortable, staying in one room for their pre-infusion appointments and infusions.

“That has made a tremendous difference in patient care,” says clinic nurse Rosa Borja Martinez, ADN, RN. “They're like, ‘Yay, I just get to stay in one spot for the few hours that I'm here.’ … I feel like it gives them a better experience that way.”

MS Rehab and Wellness physical therapist Ally Brainard, PT, DPT, says strong communication throughout the process was key to a smooth transition and brought the team closer.

“Pretty much every other week, we'd have a staff meeting talking about what to expect. And so we were all on the same page. I also feel like it was a bonding experience for all of us as coworkers. Doing it together was really fun.”

And she sees many benefits to being in the new space for both patients and staff.

“For [MS Rehabilitation and Wellness] patients, just being on the first floor has … really streamlined the process for them of getting here, checking in, it's the same as they do for their doctor's appointments,” she says. “Being in the main building in the hospital … we feel more part of Shepherd Center as a whole, which is really nice. And then also having the nurses and the doctors and all the APPs (advanced practice providers) nearby has been awesome. I feel like we've all gotten to know each other more. We can reach out to each other for questions … so it can be even more collaborative than it already was. And then we have a nice and shiny space … [with] all the best equipment, which makes serving our patients really great.”

Rich, who recently completed the MS Institute’s Integrated Therapy Program, can vouch for the results.

“The rehab/therapy area is so clean, bright, and welcoming. It’s such a pleasure to go there for therapy. The entire team is very professional and friendly.  They make you feel like each appointment is a visit with an old friend.”

Written by Ruth Underwood

In the years after her diagnosis, Sonya tried five pharmaceutical MS treatments — including several injections — but each one included troublesome side effects for her and frequent trips to the doctor’s office. 

As an Army veteran, Sonya receives care at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Atlanta. Someone at the VA suggested she get involved with the National MS Society, which led her to Shepherd Center’s Eula C. and Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation and Wellness Program. The program opened her eyes to a new way of living with MS. 

“I was just in complete shock that there was a place out there for people with MS, and there’s another way of living besides being on medication and in the hospital all the time,” she says. “I get a little chill thinking about that now, because I thought my life was over and it wasn’t.” 

Sonya comes to Shepherd every Monday for MS Wellness sessions with exercise physiologist Sheree Love, where she exercises to improve her strength and balance. When she first started attending the sessions, she used a cane, but as she’s gotten stronger, she no longer needs it every day. While medication is often an important part of managing MS, Sonya no longer takes medications to manage her symptoms. 

The MS Wellness Program addresses more than just the physical aspects of living with MS. Community outings and holiday parties allow people with MS to connect, which has been Sonya’s favorite part of the program. She’s also involved in Shades of MS, a group Love started for the Black MS community to provide a safe space for participants to discuss their illness. 

“It’s worth the hour drive in the morning to go, because I’m with other people who have multiple sclerosis. I’m with people who understand what we’re going through,” she says. 

Community — both through Shepherd Center and Sonya’s Christian faith — has helped her navigate more than just her illness. She recently moved into a new house and started a business selling customized tumblers — something she loves, and something she says wouldn’t be possible without prayers and support from her community. 

“I love learning something new, even at an older age,” Sonya says. “I never thought about having a business or doing something like this, but being a part of a community shows you, ‘Hey, you can move forward, you can do new things.’” 

Written by Erin Kenney

“My highlight of the week is I get to go to Shepherd on Mondays, and then I do at least two Zoom calls a week with the Wellness Center, so I can exercise from home,” she says.  

Carla is a mom of five and now a grandma. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2015, and her husband passed away in 2022. She says the loss of her husband and the way MS has affected her ability to be the grandma she wanted to have been “a lot to work through.” But the MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program has given her a mental boost.

“The mental has just been like a light switch — night and day,” Carla says. “They're very positive, so they're putting good thoughts in my head, encouraging me. I guess I needed a cheerleader, you know? But it's just been a good mental thing, and of course, a good physical thing too, because I'm moving and doing stuff. And I want to say maybe I have prevented a couple of falls by remembering things they told me.”

And Carla feels the influence of the exercise classes throughout the week.

“My whole week is different, not just those three hours — because I think about things differently now. Of course, it's very hard. I often think, ‘I can't do it. I can't do it.’ But I guess because I've been working with them, it's like, ‘I can do this. So let me try it this way.’ They've given me a nudge in the right direction of — ‘You can. Keep trying. Or, if you can't do it the way you used to, there's another way to do it,” she explains. “And they're letting me know that it's okay to be different. You know, do it in a way that works for my body. And even in the class, we're all different. We all have MS, but it's affected us all differently, so we're all supporting each other.”

Addressing Many Components of Health

Depending on the day of the week, MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program participants might be at Shepherd Center or online — exercising, socializing, learning something new, or all of the above. Like Carla, their calendars are full of opportunities to focus on wellness with a supportive community of people with MS, neuromyelitis optica (NMO), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), and transverse myelitis, all conditions that can cause inflammation in the nervous system.

Exercise physiologists Meghan Santander and Sheree Love are intentional about including classes and gatherings that fill a broad cross-section of needs.

That includes exercise classes — both in-person and virtual — that focus on cardio, strength training, and balance and are tailored to different levels of function, including seated classes for people using manual or power wheelchairs. There are aquatic exercise classes in Shepherd’s pool and get-togethers for anything from playing board games to decorating cookies to gathering at a local mall to walk. The gatherings always offer an opportunity to socialize. At the mall, Love shows participants how to navigate, including where to park for easy access to the building, where elevators are located, and good spots to stop and take a break.

The program also includes educational sessions led by experts from Shepherd’s staff on topics that appeal to the MS community, like MS and menopause or MS and travel accessibility.

“Our therapists will partner with us and teach educational classes, and we also partner with the clinic. It's been really cool to see how much everyone gets behind the program and offers resources to the participants,” Santander says.

A recent speaker shared information on MS and Intimacy.

“We’ve tried to offer up information that a lot of people have questions about but sometimes feel weird or embarrassed asking,” Santander explains. “So rather than you feeling like you need to ask, we'll give you a bunch of information and the space to bring it up if you feel comfortable.”

Responding to the Needs of the MS Community

Program offerings are often based on what Love and Santander hear from members.

Case in point: Shades of MS, a group Love started for the Black MS community.

“That came about from our members saying, ‘Hey, I love that you look like me — I don't always see myself in the clinicians that I deal with, and so it would be nice to connect with others,’” Love explains.  “I just gleaned from them. ‘What do you need? Tell me what will be fun for you. Tell me, what are the things that you used to do that maybe you can't do so much? And how do we bring that to your doorstep so that you don't have to go searching for it?’”

The name Shades of MS refers both to the varying hues of participants’ skin and the idea of shade as a kind of protection.

“I wanted to provide a safe space for them to come in and feel like they were protected and covered, and we can talk about the things that are interesting to them. And I can also bring in resources and clinicians to attack those subjects. So, I'm only one component, but if I can tie you into someone else who knows your disease or tie you into someone who can provide resources for you, let's do that,” Love explains.

Although the idea for Shades of MS came from Love’s interaction with MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program Members, the monthly meetings are open to anyone in the community.

Creating community — and a safe, comfortable, and supportive space is another aspect of the MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program that Carla fully embraces. On top of the exercise classes she attends, Carla participates in the MS Book Club and a new group called “Winning Wednesdays.”

“We just kind of talk,” Carla explains. “It's a group of other people with MS, and we talk about a specific issue or something we're struggling with — tricks and tips that have helped people. Nothing is formal like a doctor saying what to do. This is just what has worked for other people who are going through the same thing, and we're here to support each other.”

The small group meets virtually on Wednesday mornings, with many members having coffee in hand. Love provides a structure for the discussions. She often coaches participants on breathing techniques and hopes it helps them set their intent for the day. Sometimes, there’s homework — one week, Love asked participants to share their superpowers. Another, she asked them to think about what they’d like to work on for the next seven days. “Not your six-month plan,” Love explained, “But for the next seven days. What would you like to accomplish?”  The meetings are another way the MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program helps members connect with a supportive community.

“It’s very open,” Love says. “We get to dig a little deeper with the members and find out more like, ‘I didn't know that you used to paint’ or ‘I didn't know…’ and it's another way to build camaraderie. This is a chance to meet other faces and say, ‘Oh, wow, I didn't know our stories were the same.”

That camaraderie is an essential part of the MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program.

“When it comes to wellness, I think a lot of people focus on just the fitness or just the physical activity of it,” Love explains. “And wellness has so many different components — exercise has always been a passion of mine, but as a mother and woman, I understand that there are days when that's just not it. And maybe I don't need exercise; maybe I need a positive word. Or maybe I need some camaraderie and socializing. Or maybe I just need a mental break. And so, I wanted to make it a well-rounded, robust program where you can get whatever you need for that week.”

For Carla, the MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program and the care she receives at the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute make for a winning combination.

“I'm not moving. I'll be here. But I've often thought I can't leave Shepherd Center. I can't go anywhere else. I would never want to get treatment at any other facility,” she says.

Getting with the Program

The MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program is open to the community. Prospective participants just need clearance from their doctor. Potential members get four complimentary sessions with the wellness team, during which exercise physiologists talk through what the program might look like for the individual. Membership is paid in six- or 12-month increments, and scholarships are available. According to Santander, once people join the program, they often stick with it for more than exercise.

“It's giving you that community of people who are going through a journey similar to yours,” Santander explains. “The group is exercising, but also, they are friends and are talking about how their kids or grandkids are or opening up about a struggle they're having, and people offer advice. So, it has a nice family feel to it, which is really sweet because MS can be very isolating. People often feel like their family doesn't truly know what it feels like to deal with it. Sometimes, we (the instructors) don't step in at all — someone will voice something they're struggling with, and the rest of the group immediately meets them with support and advice — it's really cool to watch.”

For more information about the Eula C. and Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation and Wellness Program, email mswellness@shepherd.org.

Written by Ruth Underwood

His mother, Eula Carlos, pressed him to visit Shepherd Center. She was friends with Alana Shepherd and knew the hospital had innovative treatments and top-notch clinicians. John was reluctant, but eventually, he met with neurologist Ben Thrower, M.D. The two clicked immediately. 

“We were so grateful because when John was first diagnosed, there was nothing. There were no drugs, there were no therapies,” Elaine says. “Going from nothing at all to a center that encompasses everything a patient could need . . . it makes all the difference.” 

Dr. Thrower and the MS team helped John with his MS symptoms and flare-ups. When Eula’s husband died, she wanted to do something in his honor and give back to the program that helped their son. So, she donated the money to rename the MS Institute to the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute. 

The family has continued Eula’s legacy of generosity. John and Elaine supported the start of the Eula C. and Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation and Wellness Program in 2013. The program offers occupational, physical, and speech therapy, exercise classes, community outings, and educational opportunities to help people understand and live well with their MS diagnoses. 

The family’s reach at Shepherd extends beyond the MS Institute. John served as a co-chair for the Pursuing Possible campaign, raising money to increase patient access and improve the patient and family experience. Elaine and their daughters, Angela Carlos and Kari Dunn, helped chair the 2022 Legendary Party. Kari is also a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees, and Elaine has been involved in the Shepherd Center Auxiliary. 

“I would do anything for Shepherd that’s within my realm,” Elaine says. “They’ve done so much for my family, and for any family in need.”

Written by Erin Kenney

This story is an excerpt from “Mission Moments: 50 Years of Rebuilding Lives One Moment at a Time,” a book celebrating Shepherd’s 50th anniversary in 2025. 

“I wrapped my mind around it,” Greta says of the news that the symptoms she’d been experiencing — extreme fatigue, dizziness, pain, and weakness throughout her body — were caused by MS. “But I didn’t wallow — the condition was not going to take over my life.”

It took a few months to get the diagnosis. She received hypotheses from doctors but no real answers and nothing to relieve her symptoms.

“I had to cut back my teaching as it was difficult to move,” she recalls. “I stopped going to the gym. It was a scary and stressful time because no one had any answers.”

Last September, she visited another doctor who suspected MS. An MRI confirmed that diagnosis.

“I was actually relieved,” Greta says. “I knew what I was dealing with, and I could move toward progress.”

Greta sought treatment at the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute at Shepherd Center, impressed by their holistic approach to care.

“MS is something I’m going to have the rest of my life,” she says. “I wanted a place that could give me a whole cadre of care.”

Greta began regular physical and occupational therapy, incorporated stretching into her routine, and was careful to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep.

“I’m very coachable,” Greta says. “Tell me what to do, and I will do it faithfully with as much effort as I can. I felt empowered to improve.”

Greta also works out at Shepherd Center’s ProMotion Fitness Center, taking exercise classes tailored to people with MS. Her hard work and dedication have paid off; she’s seen improvements in her strength, mobility, and balance.

She has adapted her work schedule, and now teaches at an indoor facility, which helps her avoid the heat. She’s cut back on teaching but expanded her business in other ways that are not as physically demanding. She walks with a walking stick to help with balance.

She is grateful for the MS Institute.

“MS can be overwhelming,” Greta says, “especially if you don’t have a place where you can get physical and emotional support. Shepherd Center does that. Everything you need is right there. It is a life-changing, life-affirming place.”

Written by Sara Baxter

That changed in 2017, a few years after moving from her native Philadelphia to Atlanta, when she first met Ben Thrower, M.D., medical director of Shepherd Center’s Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute. After treating Cathy’s latest flare-up and updating her medications, Dr. Thrower recommended she join Shepherd Center’s MS Wellness Program.

Now a decade old, the program was one of the first in the nation to integrate all aspects of wellness — fitness, nutrition, mental health — into a comprehensive, yet customized, approach for people with MS.

“For the first time, I learned how I can actively fight MS,” Cathy says. “And I fight it by keeping my body strong and less stressed. When I do that, it helps my strength, my flexibility, and my cognitive issues. I am probably more fit today at 69 than I was in my 40s!”

Ever since, Cathy has taken advantage of the MS Wellness Program’s slate of exercise and educational classes: whole-body exercise twice a week, pool classes, aerobics, yoga, and pilates.

“I never thought at my age I’d be starting pilates,” Cathy says with a laugh. “There are some things in the class I can’t do, but I try it all. And it’s all adaptive. It’s mat pilates. Seated yoga. No matter what stage you’re at, I’ve realized there’s always something you can do to fight MS and keep yourself going.”

Cathy thrives when she takes charge of her health. Shortly before moving to Atlanta in 2013, she decided to get serious about losing the weight she’d put on due to her physical challenges. She began walking two miles a day and eating healthier. It took four years, but she lost more than 100 pounds.

Unfortunately, in 2018, the combination of her MS-related spasticity and the arthritis in her knees robbed Cathy of those long walks. The loss took a toll on her emotionally. So, Cathy did something else she hadn’t done before; she talked to a staff psychologist at Shepherd Center about how MS was affecting her mentally.

“I was kind of resistant because I can usually talk things out myself,” Cathy says. “But she helped me understand that I was really grieving the loss of those long-distance walks. I had used those walks to figure things out in my mind. They helped me mentally as much as physically. So, I came up with new strategies for thinking through things, and my counselor directed me to a new aerobics program to help replace the walks to some degree.”

Thankfully, there’s far more that Cathy can do, thanks to the wellness regimen her team built just for her. Using a walker has helped keep her mobile and on her feet. She spends a month over the holidays in London, where her daughter Robyn lives. She’s active in Atlanta’s MS community. And she enjoys seeing plays and trying new restaurants around Atlanta with her friends — including Clinton, her partner of six years.

“We lived in the same building, and he would always stop and talk to me,” Cathy says. “Six years ago, we started talking for real one day, and we’ve been together ever since. He grew up on a farm in southwest Georgia, and I’m a city girl from West Philly, just like the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. So, we have a lot of fun together.”

 Written by Phillip Jordan          

“We are what’s called mirror twins,” Terry explains. “So, we are mirror images of each other. I’m a lefty, and she’s a righty, so if we held up our dominant hands, it would be like looking in a mirror. That’s how our symptoms presented, too.” 

It wasn’t until years later that Terry and Tamara would learn the cause of their symptoms – multiple sclerosis (MS). The emotional distress of their mother’s passing took a toll on their bodies, resulting in constant pain, visual changes, worsening fatigue, and body tingling. Still, it wasn’t until years later that Terry was diagnosed at 25, and Tamara was diagnosed at 30.

While the diagnosis was difficult, Terry and Tamara took a page from their mother’s book. Diagnosed at 33 with an aggressive form of cancer, their mother passed along her strength to her daughters.

“We were lucky to still be with her for 11 more years after her diagnosis,” Terry says. “She taught us to be resilient. She woke up every day with a smile on her face, so we woke up every day with a smile on our faces. That resiliency has gotten us a long way.”

When they were diagnosed, the twins were living across the country from one another; Tamara in San Francisco, California, and Terry in Atlanta, Georgia. Her primary care physician referred Terry to Shepherd Center’s Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute.

“That was my first experience of an MS center,” she says. “I remember being amazed because the nurse practitioner and doctor really listened. That’s part of what makes Shepherd so special — people really listen. It’s not like anywhere else.”

From there, Terry began taking part in Beyond Therapy®, an activity-based therapy program that aims to help people with a variety of neurological disorders improve their lifelong health and minimize secondary complications.

“I love Beyond Therapy,” Terry says. “I’m paralyzed from the waist down, so I don’t get upright often, but the Lokomat lets me get up and walk on a treadmill. I’m so grateful for that time and for the therapists there. They push you in such a kind way and always pivot based on where you are that day.”

While Terry continues her therapy with Shepherd Center in Atlanta, she stays close to her sister and the MS community through their website at twinscoast2coast.com and their social media channels. There, the twins create a safe space to share the stories, celebrations, and struggles of living with MS and advocate for people with the disease. They both volunteer with the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, and Terry is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Georgia Multiple Sclerosis Society.

“At Twins Coast to Coast, our motto is to motivate, inspire, and educate,” says Terry. “We’ve lived with MS for so long that we can give back and give our experiences, and it means everything to be able to help someone else.”

 Written by Lindsey Rieben 

Tangie grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, working hard to help contribute to her family’s expenses beginning at age 15. She always loved art and fashion and graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in fashion marketing from American InterContinental University. In 2011, she was pursuing her master’s degree in fine art at The Academy of Art University San Francisco when she suddenly lost vision in her left eye.

“I could no longer see or distinguish colors,” she says. “I’ve always been an artist and was getting my master’s so I could not lose my sight.”

Tangie’s ophthalmologist treated her for optic neuritis, a condition where inflammation damages the optic nerve. It can cause temporary vision loss in one eye and is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). Her ophthalmologist referred her to Emory for an MRI and a visit with a neurologist. There, Tangie was diagnosed with MS.

As a self-proclaimed “nerd,” Tangie began researching to learn as much as she could about MS, but since she and her husband were trying to have a baby, she did not start treatment.

“MS is a crazy thing, and when you’re pregnant, sometimes your body protects itself, and a lot of women feel great during pregnancy,” she explains. “That’s what happened to me. I had a great pregnancy, but after I had my son, my body felt like it was on fire, and my migraines came back.”

Tangie and her neurologist worked together to develop a treatment plan that worked for her. Three years after beginning treatment, Tangie’s neurologist retired, and she found another doctor who changed her treatment plan. At the same time, Tangie started a stressful new job in human resources (HR) and began to experience new symptoms of MS.

“I was doing the work of three people,” Tangie explains. “It was taking a toll on me health-wise, and I started to experience other symptoms. I was 36 and would come home from work with urine on my clothes because I couldn’t hold my bladder. I was dragging my leg. I couldn’t stay up and was no longer productive. That job told me not to come back until I got approval from my doctor.”

That’s when she found the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute at Shepherd Center.

“I was skeptical at first because of my experience with my last neurologist, but from the phone calls to appointments, everyone has been kind and attentive,” she says. “None of the people at Shepherd Center have ever made me feel bad or embarrassed about any questions I ask. All of them have been consistently amazing.”

Now Tangie sees Jacqueline Rosenthal, M.D., at Shepherd. Tangie has a new treatment plan and a renewed focus on taking care of herself. She began finding new creative outlets, namely sewing.

“I knew I could not go back to the workforce, so that’s when I really started taking care of myself, and I learned how to sew,” she says.

She started by taking a class on sewing in zippers and simple skirts. From there, she stumbled on a YouTube channel that taught her how to make a clutch purse. She was immediately hooked, taking inspiration from when she worked as a manager at a Coach store.

“When I took that class, I remembered being in awe of all the details on the Coach bags,” she says. “Everything rushed back to me like, ‘You know how to do this. You love everything about handbags.’ I knew from that point on I had to make handbags, and they had to be leather.”

As driven as ever, Tangie researched until she found a vintage sewing machine that could sew leather and, later, a skiving machine, which removes excess material for two edges of leather that are meant to be joined together. From that point forward, Tangie was on a roll, and she continues to make leather bags by hand. She still receives care at the MS Institute, and the staff she initially met has now become like family.

“I don’t shake when I walk or fall like I used to,” Tangie says. “Shepherd Center has just been so amazing. The nurses there are like my big sisters. I love them from the bottom of my heart. We’ve just been in each other’s lives for so long. They ask about my family, and my family asks about them. You know the saying ‘It takes a village?’ That’s for real.”

You can check out Tangie’s handbag designs on her Instagram at @keane.koi!

Written by Lindsey Rieben

“In 2019, I did about 6,200 steps per day on average,” says Amy, who lives in Canton, Georgia. “I wanted to walk all over that in 2020 and do even more.”

She put that to the test this past February when she visited Walt Disney World with her husband and three sons. In five days, Amy walked a total of 110,000 steps – or 22,000 steps each day. That figure is impressive for anyone, but it was especially meaningful to Amy, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in October 2014.

Tuning into Herself

In May 2014, Amy began noticing trouble with her balance and dizziness.

“I started looking up my symptoms online,” Amy says. “I came across articles that said it could be MS, but I put that thought on the back burner and didn’t pursue it.”

After casually mentioning her symptoms to her primary care physician, she was referred to a neurologist and got an MRI. About a month later, she received a phone call confirming her diagnosis.

“When I was diagnosed, they said I had probably had MS for 10 years or more,” Amy recalls. “I thought some of my issues were just due to getting older, but they weren’t. Had I listened to my body better, I could’ve caught it earlier.”

Amy began receiving treatment for MS that November. At the time, her symptoms were relatively mild, and she was working and easily walking.

“I started to notice it was more difficult to walk into my office from the parking lot around 2017,” Amy says. “That’s when I felt muscle weakness in my arms and right leg.”

Then in 2018, Amy received another piece of tough news: Her department at work was being eliminated.

“That forced me to tune into myself and my needs more,” Amy says. “In some ways, as much as I didn’t anticipate leaving my career, it was one of those things that allowed me to focus more on my health.”

Amy decided to prioritize a positive mental outlook and physical exercise to combat her worsening symptoms.

“After realizing how my MS had progressed, it prompted me to look for experts who specialized in helping patients with things like mobility and hand dexterity,” Amy says. “That’s what brought me to Shepherd Center.”

Better Days Ahead

Amy worked with Clare Hartigan, PT, MPT, a physical therapist at the Eula C. and Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation and Wellness Program at Shepherd Center, from November 2019 through the end of that year with the primary goal of improving her walking.

“Clare was absolutely lovely and reassuring,” Amy says. “I felt like I was accepted and ready to tackle anything.”

Amy tackled a lot, including her regular exercises, stretches and learning to use assistive technology such as the Bioness/Walk Aide Neuroprosthesis, a device a user wears that delivers electrical stimulation to help move the legs.

“I wore the device on my right leg,” Amy says. “It was amazing. Once we got it dialed in, I took off walking like it was no trouble at all. It brought me to tears.”

In January 2020, Amy’s parents gifted her the money to purchase one of the devices. Wearing it, she was able to take 110,000 steps in five days at Walt Disney World.

Three weeks after the trip with her family, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Amy’s scheduled occupational therapy appointment at Shepherd Center had to be canceled. She wasn’t expecting her therapy to resume during the summer until she received a call to set up a telehealth appointment in July with Shannon Schneider, MS, OTR/L, occupational therapist at the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute.

“The virtual appointments are so awesome!” Amy says. “I don’t have to re-map my whole day and drive into Atlanta. I’ve had four appointments so far, and it couldn’t be more perfect.”

Amy’s new goal is to improve her hand dexterity and coordination. No matter what challenge she tackles next, she remembers to be grateful and hopeful.

“Over the past several years, I’ve realized my diagnosis does not dictate my level of joy in life,” Amy says. “And I never give up hope that better days are ahead.”

Written by Damjana Alverson

The MS Institute Rehabilitation and Wellness Program at Shepherd Center is designed to assist individuals living with MS to learn how to manage their health, improve day-to-day function and gain strength in both a physical and psychosocial sense. Under the guidance of an exercise physiologist, this comprehensive program will teach participants exercises that are appropriate for their physical abilities and promote self-care.

Ian Flannery, MS Wellness program therapy manager, spoke with Shepherd Center Radio in a new podcast, explaining the different approaches of care, and how the program empowers patients to stay active and decrease the effects of deconditioning that can result from MS.

Download the podcast as an audio file above, or access it at shepherd.org/radio.

That Ashley was able to resume hiking and exploring the North Georgia mountains just one year later – with her border collie, Izzy – is due, she says, to the medical care and support she received from Shepherd Center.

A “Type-A personality,” Ashley is not one to sit still. During the three months before her MS attack, for instance, she received her doctorate of veterinary medicine at the University of Florida, got married and moved to a new home in Georgia. Ashley believes the key to her recovery was that Shepherd Center staff convinced her to slow down and focus on herself. She took time off from her career as a general practice veterinarian and embraced physical therapy and activities available through the Eula C. & Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation and Wellness Program.

“Dr. (Ben) Thrower (medical director of the MS Institute at Shepherd Center) convinced me of the right treatment option, and that probably saved my life,” Ashley says. “After six months of treatments and rehabilitation, I got a huge energy boost.”

She also utilized her own motto: “Even if you can just get one percent improvement out of something, do it,” Ashley says. “If you make enough one-percent improvements, over time you’ll get somewhere.”

Today, Ashley still takes time for herself. In addition to hikes, she goes horseback riding weekly. She has also switched to part-time work, which led to a more fulfilling calling. Ashley is now working for a veterinary hospice and in-home animal euthanasia service called Lap of Love, where she guides families through end-of-life care for their pets.

“It’s so rewarding to bring peace to these situations and help prevent suffering,” she says. “This is definitely where I’m supposed to be. This is my career.”

Written by Phillip Jordan

Understandably, people living with MS often have their sights set on new and proven ways to feel better. Researchers at Shepherd Center are paving the way to find practical solutions and interventions to help – both in the clinic and through an increasingly robust research program.

“Although disease-modifying therapies help slow the progression of disability, they don’t treat the symptoms or address the remaining deficits due to MS,” says Deborah Backus, Ph.D., PT, director of MS research at the Eula C. and Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation and Wellness Program founded at Shepherd Center in 2012. “Our rehabilitation and wellness research is looking at ways to keep people as healthy and as functional as possible for as long as possible.”

In just a few short years, the program that was created with the expressed purpose of establishing and pushing forward MS wellness research has already made a name for itself. Dr. Backus and her team have initiated several research studies being conducted at Shepherd Center and with collaborators around the world.

“We are building on the pilot studies initially funded by the Carlos family, and the results are leading to more funding and international recognition,” says Dr. Backus, adding the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is among the new funders. “We are also beginning to publish and disseminate our research so we can start impacting clinical care.”

Some recent research highlights include studies to assess the potential benefits of functional electrical stimulation (FES) bike training, therapeutic massage and assessments for driving safety.

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Cycling

Dr. Backus and her team conducted a four-week trial in collaboration with the University of Georgia that showed FES bike training three times a week appears to be safe for people with more progressive forms of MS. They are analyzing outcomes, but the initial data suggests that stimulating the legs to move in a rhythmical way may benefit these patients.

“We saw changes in their muscles, and it also significantly reduced pain and fatigue,” Dr. Backus says. “For people using a wheelchair, they improved in their cycling in a short period of time, suggesting they have the capacity to improve.”

More research is needed to see how this might relate to function. So far, 15 people have completed this study, and up to 20 more will be enrolled in 2015.

Massage and MS

Human touch can have a powerful effect on health, and research has found it may even promote healing. Therapeutic massage is known to help relax muscles, enhance range of motion, improve blood flow and reduce stress. Although as many as one-third of individuals with MS reportedly use massage as an adjunct to their medical treatment, there has been very little research on this approach.

Now, thanks to funding from the Massage Therapy Foundation, the research team at Shepherd Center is investigating whether and how routine massage can help improve pain, spasticity and overall quality of life among people with MS. Twenty-five participants are receiving standardized massages – for the same amount of time, number of strokes, parts of the body worked on – for one hour a week for six weeks.

Driving Safety

Being able to drive gives people a sense of independence, but there are often factors that can limit someone’s ability to drive safely. Shepherd Center researchers are conducting a study, called “Fitness to Drive,” in partnership with Georgia Regents University. This program is ongoing and has collected data for nearly 100 people with MS to date. The ultimate goal is to identify ways to rehabilitate driving to allow people with MS to retain the ability to drive safely.

For information about these and other studies, click here.

Written by Amanda Crowe, MA, MPH